Synopsis

The meow of death . . .
** **
Whisker Jog, New Hampshire, is a long way from Hollywood, but it’s the place legendary actress Deanna Daltry wants to call home. Taking up residence in a stone mansion off Cemetery Hill, the retired, yet still glamorous, septuagenarian has adopted two kittens from Lara Caphart’s High Cliff Shelter for Cats. With help from her Aunt Fran, Lara makes sure the kitties settle in safely with their new celebrity mom.

But not everyone in town is a fan of the fading star. Deanna was in Whisker Jog when she was younger, earning a reputation for pussyfooting around, and someone is using that knowledge against her. After being frightened by some nasty pranks, Deanna finds herself the prime murder suspect when the body of a local teacher is found on her property. Now, it’s up to Lara, Aunt Fran, and the blue-eyed Ragdoll mystery cat Lara recently encountered to collar a killer before another victim is pounced upon . . .

Praise for Linda Reilly’s Deep Fried Mysteries
** **“I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzler of a mystery. Reilly cooks up a perfect recipe of murder and mayhem in this charming cozy.” —Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author of the Hat Shop Mysteries
** **“Smart, sassy, and a little bit scary. Everything a good cozy should be!” —Laura Childs, New York Times bestselling author of the Tea Shop Mysteries
** **“Everything I want in a cozy mystery: endearing characters, an enchanting setting, tantalizing food descriptions and a top-notch mystery plot!” —Susan Furlong, author of the Georgia Peach Mysteries

Good for cat lovers

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing an advance copy of Claws of Death by Linda Reilly in exchange for an honest review. The book is a light read, suitable for a large range of audiences who are looking for something gentle with no graphic violence. Throughout the book there is information regarding cats, the care and feeding of them as well as a strong recommendation for adopting from a local shelter. The protagonist lives with her aunt in a home they have turned into a shelter for abused and/or abandoned cats. The shelter then makes the cats available for adoption, an admirable alternative if someone is looking to add a pet to their home. In addition, there is a “spirit cat” only the protagonist can see, who is helpful in magically focusing the protagonist’s attention on important clues.
The mystery in the book is almost secondary to the relationships created for the protagonist, both in her personal life and those that are part of the adoption process within the book. As such, if you are interested in reading a story that is more about people than about solving the puzzle, this may be ideal for you. Also, anyone who has a soft spot for cats, particularly shelter ones, may enjoy that element of this book. If you are looking for a strong mystery with clues sprinkled throughout and an opportunity to solve the puzzle, this may not provide as much of a challenge as you like. There is important information that is only provided at the end of the book, as the mystery is solved. This precludes the reader reaching a conclusion until it is presented in the book.
The book itself is well written, with good attention to detail. It moves at a smooth pace from beginning to end and is easily read in the space of a few hours.

by AUByrdon July 15, 2018

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4.0

Cat cozy

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Claws of Death. It is a pleasant cozy with a well-crafted mystery and lots of cute cats. This is great for those times when you are looking for a book to relax with. Now I need to read the first book in this series!